A terrible away start to their United Rugby Championship last season contributed to the Stormers’ eventual downfall in the play-offs.
So, they will do everything to prevent something like that happening again when they kick off their 2024/25 campaign in Wales this weekend.
It’s a relatively easier tour than in previous seasons with the Ospreys (Saturday at 8.35pm SA time), Zebre Parma in Italy and Edinburgh in Scotland waiting on them in the first three weeks.
Last season, they won none of their four tour matches after starting strong against the Lions and Scarlets at home, before embarking on their four-week trip to Europe.
This time around, it’s only three games on the road, but it will take a massive effort from the inaugural URC champions to shake that hoodoo of struggling away from their Cape Town Stadium fortress.
“It is vital that we make a positive start to this campaign and take some momentum into the home matches against Munster and Glasgow next month.”
According to Stormers director of rugby John Dobson, they understand how significant the tour will be in the context of their season.
“It is vital that we make a positive start to this campaign and take some momentum into the home matches against Munster and Glasgow next month,” said Dobson.
The Glasgow Warriors, who are the defending champions, knocked the Stormers out in the quarter-finals last season, while Munster beat the Stormers in Cape Town to win the URC’s second season.
While there will be some expected growing pains, especially without some Springboks, the first two URC matches should give Dobson a clear indication of where his team are and where they need to improve.
They’ve only had one warm-up game, against the Pumas in Mbombela last week, where the players could get some game time.
Our 29-man squad for a three-match @Vodacom #URC tour up north.
ℹ️ All the details https://t.co/WBNV0hwyFH#iamastormer #dhldelivers pic.twitter.com/mLxfpMqrCJ
Saturday will mark the return of centre Ruhan Nel and utility back Damian Willemse, who were out for a significant time last season with injuries.
Loose forward recruit Dave Ewers and the returning JD Schickerling (lock) and Dewaldt Duvenage (scrumhalf) have also been included in the 29-man squad that left Cape Town yesterday for the three-match tour.
“We know how important it is in this competition to perform on the road, so we will give these three matches all we have,” Dobson said.
🆙 and running in the @Vodacom #URC this weekend. #iamastormer #dhldelivers pic.twitter.com/eADkgPwiqI
“There are some new faces as well as a few old ones, but all of these players are hungry to make an impression in the Stormers jersey over the next three weeks.”
Dobson will announce his first matchday team on Friday.
Stormers Tour Squad
Adré Smith, André-Hugo Venter, Angelo Davids, Brok Harris, Damian Willemse, Dan du Plessis, Dave Ewers, Dewaldt Duvenage, Hendré Stassen, JD Schickerling, Jean-Luc du Plessis, JJ Kotze, Joseph Dweba, Jurie Matthee, Keke Morabe, Leolin Zas, Leon Lyons, Louw Nel, Marcel Theunissen, Neethling Fouché, Paul de Wet, Ruben van Heerden, Ruhan Nel, Sazi Sandi, Stefan Ungerer, Sti Sithole, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Wandisile Simelane, Warrick Gelant.